Green Gardening

When you do the work that the Valley Windows team does – giving a better view to those throughout the area through premium windows and doors, you tend to learn a lot of things that you never knew you would. When you’re on the interior, installing products like our Aluminum Louvre Window pronounce the external vistas of your neighbourhood around you. When you’re outside, either enjoying your own property or appreciating those of others’, great windows will always elevate the aesthetic value of what you’re looking at.

Today, we’re joining those on the outside and appreciating something else that they’re looking at – the landscaping. We discuss landscaping frequently on the Valley Windows blog, but in today’s post, we’re looking specifically at the best ways to be sustainable about it. Read on for more information:

What is green gardening, you may ask? It sounds like an oxymoron doesn’t it? Green gardening not only appreciates the green thumb, but the processes, tools and efficiencies that can be leveraged so that Mother Nature and your carbon footprint really are reaping the benefits.

Why should you do it? Well, you can choose to go the green gardening route for a number of reasons. It might already be an issue that you’re passionate about, it might be an issue that you want to learn about, or you might just want to save as much money as possible. While there may be extra costs on the front end when you kick off the work, the value that sustainable gardening and landscaping adjustments can add to your property is far more than you’d expect.

How do you do it? Ah, that’s the big question isn’t it. Remember that, as with any home renovation, you can scale the body of work. You don’t have to immediately get rid of anything that could have a negative effect on the environment. It’s like when you make any sort of lifestyle decision, slowly and surely changing habits will have the longest and most successful outcome. So, if you’re interested, we challenge you to pick a couple of the following and give them a try as the weather heats up. If the habit doesn’t stick, it’s not the end of the world and you can say you tried something new:

• Conserve your water and make sure that you’re controlling any run-off. This goes for both your lawn and any plants in your garden. Drip irrigation or soaker hoses work best for the garden and if you use a low-angle spray for the lawn, you’ll save water quickly.
• Reduce the energy that you’re using. You can do this simply by updating some of the beds or shrubs you have with succulents or perennials that are tolerant to weather as severe as droughts.
• Be conscientious about dealing with any waste. Fun fact – don’t worry about collecting lawn clippings… they’re actually very good for the soil. For your garden, you can develop a personal compost pile.

We have plenty more where this came from. Reach out to the Valley Windows team.